Technology Laboratory Support Engineer

Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in high-performance chemicals, fibers and plastics, committed to enhancing quality of life through innovation. With fully integrated manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia, we develop essential solutions that drive safer vehicles, cleaner energy, advanced medical devices, and durable consumer goods. Guided by a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and customer success, we operate responsibly while delivering value through cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise. Join our team and be part of a collaborative environment where your work drives meaningful global impact.

The Technology Laboratory Support Engineer supports the Product Technology Manager with the day-to-day operation of the injection molding and materials testing laboratories. This role coordinates work, helps maintain safe and compliant laboratory operations, supports equipment readiness, and assists with molding and testing activities. The position also provides technical support for field requests and product-development programs by applying polymer science, processing knowledge, laboratory methods, and a structured problem-solving approach.

The successful candidate will be an organized, hands-on technical resource who can balance routine laboratory execution with changing business needs, communicate work status clearly, and build strong working relationships across technology, product support, sales, manufacturing, quality, maintenance, and global application teams.

Targeted Outcomes

• Molding and testing work is completed safely, accurately, on schedule, and with complete traceability.
• Laboratory priorities, workload, equipment issues, and risks are communicated effectively to the Laboratory Manager and stakeholders.
• Test data and technical responses are reliable, timely, and useful for product-development and customer-support decisions.
• Laboratory methods, training, equipment reliability, organization, and compliance continue to improve.
• The role provides dependable day-to-day support that increases laboratory capacity and allows the Laboratory Manager to focus on broader team, compliance, and capability needs.

Responsibilities

Laboratory Operations

• Support planning, prioritization, and coordination of daily activities across the injection molding and materials testing laboratories while serving as the primary engineering resource for day-to-day laboratory execution.
• Coordinate incoming work requests, clarify scope and timing, communicate priorities, and provide status updates for active programs.
• Maintain laboratory organization, 5S standards, material identification, specimen traceability, and accurate records in laboratory systems.

Injection Molding

• Perform and/or support injection molding of test specimens, including material preparation, machine setup, mold changes, process adjustments, documentation, and basic troubleshooting.
• Support molding activities associated with product development, application development, material evaluations, and customer requests.

Materials Testing

• Perform and/or support physical, thermal, electrical, mechanical, and flammability testing in accordance with approved procedures and applicable ASTM, ISO, IEC, UL, and customer requirements.
• Review test and molding data for completeness, reasonableness, trends, and potential abnormalities before results are released.

Equipment Readiness and Maintenance

• Support equipment readiness through routine checks, calibration coordination, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and communication with maintenance or external service providers.
• Maintain equipment control and supporting documentation to ensure reliable laboratory operations.

Quality and Compliance

• Support ISO/IEC 17025 compliance, internal audits, customer audits, corrective actions, proficiency testing, measurement assurance, and document control activities.
• Follow all company safety, environmental, quality, cybersecurity, and business-conduct requirements.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records and specimen traceability to support data integrity and compliance.

Technical Support and Problem Solving

• Generate application and product-support data and assist with technical summaries, presentations, and customer-requested information.
• Engage cross-functional teams to support supplier qualification, plant qualification, product-quality investigations, material evaluations, and new application development.
• Solve technical problems using scientific methods, data analysis, root-cause tools, and Lean/Six Sigma principles.

Training and Technical Guidance

• Train, coach, and provide technical guidance to technicians on molding, testing methods, equipment operation, troubleshooting, and safe work practices.
• Coordinate daily work assignments and provide technical direction to laboratory personnel without direct supervisory responsibility.

Methods and Continuous Improvement

• Help develop, verify, validate, and improve test methods, work instructions, laboratory forms, and operating practices.
• Participate in capital, continuous-improvement, and laboratory capability projects from planning through implementation.

Team and Interactions

The position works closely with the Product Technology Manager, laboratory technicians, product support engineers, application development, product development, quality, manufacturing, maintenance, and customer-facing technical organizations.

The role may coordinate daily work assignments and provide technical direction to laboratory personnel without having direct supervisory responsibility.

Required Experience

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, materials science, chemistry, polymer science, or a related technical discipline.
• 2–7 years of relevant industrial experience; equivalent hands-on laboratory and polymer-processing experience may be considered.
• Experience with injection molding, polymer processing, materials testing, or an industrial laboratory environment.
• Familiarity with polymer chemistry, compounding, engineering thermoplastics, and methods used to evaluate polymer properties.
• Working knowledge of laboratory safety, data integrity, equipment control, and technical documentation.

Required Skills

• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple routine and complex laboratory requests.
• Strong hands-on troubleshooting and scientific problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret laboratory and process data and recognize unusual or inconsistent results.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to communicate current status, risks, and timing.
• Ability to work effectively with technicians, engineers, operators, maintenance, quality, and customer-facing teams.
• Understanding of injection molding operations, extrusion or compounding processes, and laboratory testing practices.
• Ability to learn and apply ASTM, ISO, IEC, UL, customer, and internal test requirements.
• Experience with Lean/Six Sigma, DMAIC, root-cause analysis, or continuous-improvement methods is preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and laboratory or data-management systems.
• Self-directed, organized, dependable, safety-focused, and willing to work in a hands-on laboratory environment.

Physical and Work Environment

This is a hands-on laboratory position requiring routine use of injection molding and testing equipment, movement of materials and specimens, standing and walking, and compliance with required personal protective equipment and laboratory safety practices. Occasional schedule flexibility may be needed to support equipment operation, time-sensitive programs, audits, or customer requests.

At Ascend Performance Materials, we value transparency and fairness in our hiring process. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, search firms, or staffing agencies. Any resumes received from such entities will be considered the property of Ascend Performance Materials, and we will not be obligated to pay any fees for such submissions. Our Talent Acquisition Team actively engages with preferred recruitment partners who have established agreements with us. We encourage all interested candidates to apply directly through our official channels to be considered for any open positions.

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high-quality chemicals, fibers and plastics focused on improving quality of life and inspiring a better tomorrow through innovation. We are a fully integrated material solutions provider with manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.

Our global workforce makes the materials used to make safer vehicles, cleaner energy, better medical devices, smarter appliances, and longer-lasting apparel and consumer goods. We are committed to safety, sustainability, and the success of our customers and our communities.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values: OARS.

Our OARS values shape how we work, lead, and grow together. We take ownership, stay accountable, operate reliably, and support one another to deliver results safely and consistently. Through clear expectations, empowered decision-making, intentional communication, and continuous feedback, we create a culture built on action, visibility, and shared success.

Together, OARS gives us a shared language and clear direction. These values guide our decisions, shape priorities and set expectations as we move forward – aligned, focused and committed to creating performance materials that improve lives today and inspire a better tomorrow.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.